Flower family, I've moved my blog to a new home. We've settled the brushes in, and found new space for the palette to spread out in bold color! Check out my new blog here, where commenting is much easier, and following is a piece of cake.

It's been a while since we've connected and my how time flies! I've recently been working with Disney on some colorful projects, started work on my dream studio (with input from some very wise souls, artists just like you!) and much more. I hope you'll join me on my next big adventure, and hop into an online workshop with me, while you're at it. The pugs and I have missed you, so don't dally. We've got all sorts of new fun stuff happening, and live painting events on Facebook every week. I hope to see you soon!

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There have been more big changes in Flower Mound Studio this week, things are shaking up and getting stirred about. I shared last week in my newsletter to you that the hubby has given his notice at his old job to begin work for a new boss ~ me! (Although he said I have always been the boss...) But there is a bit more news.

Beginning in 2017, I will be teaching only a few in-person workshops. I will continue to teach my European workshops (they have gelato, after all!) but here in the US, I will only be teaching at a few locations. The response to my new online class, Painting Brilliant Colors, has been absolutely overwhelming, with registrations pouring in from around the world. This has also given me the ability to travel less, while at the same time continue to teach and share all that I know with you, which is a dream come true. I'll be dedicating a great deal of time to making my e-course the best possible experience for you.

Class registration for Painting Brilliant Colors closes on July 20, so don't delay, I've put a reserved sign on an easel for you, and your superpower color cape is being monogrammed with your initials as we speak!

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Break out your gelato spoon and pack your traveling brush, I'm giving away a seat in my Italy 2017 workshop! I promise I haven't gone over the deep end or had too much spaghetti in my diet, I am just one very thankful artist. Registrations for my new online class, Painting Brilliant Colors, have been pouring in, and this week my awesome husband gave his notice at his old job to begin working for a new boss ~ me!

Want to know how to win a workshop seat and join me in Italy, June 18-24, 2017? Read more here....

We are just a few days away from the Big Color Reveal from Flower Mound Studio. Bright and early tomorrow morning, everyone who has signed up to be the first to hear the scoop will receive a special giveaway offer. Patience has its rewards, mio caro!

In the meantime, I'm just about packed for my workshop to Italy. And there are a few sugary twists in the dolci, so to speak. I learned just today, something amazing about the hotel where we will be staying in the heart of an ancient Italian village.

I clipped these hydrangeas from my garden this morning. It was particularly tough choosing who was going to succumb to the snippers! My hydrangea garden is all pastels this year, with pale blues and violets, whites and pinks and dusty roses. I suspect you'll be seeing a lot of these colors in new paintings to come.

I'm packing some of those colors for my journey workshop to Italy in June, where my students and I will be painting with superpower colors. I've used a few of them in The Chosen. If you detect just a bit of glow around those pink petals, you're seeing one of my favorite hues - permanent rose. I love using permanent rose as an underpainting for a pink flower. If you're careful not to cover all the permanent rose with petals, and let some of it shine through, you're rewarded with an extra color pop. Give it a try (even if you're working in acrylics instead of oils.) A note of caution: Be sure to don your apron and your goggles first, things will get super brightly precariously pink very quickly....!

I posted
another Facebook live video today, my third one - and the good news is, I
succeeded in not accidentally letting my houseslippers show in the film. I've
also learned that if I keep kibble on hand, I can lure her majesty, AnnieBee,
into posing for her admirers during part of the shoot. This is always a big
hit. I was feeling downright smart about the whole thing, until I lost my wifi
connection and the video cut short just a bit! whoospie! If you missed the
video clip, you can see it by clicking
here. I shared a peek at my new little bistro table and chairs,
and my new cute little squishable peony pillows that arrived a few days ago.
But I digress!

I have a
big announcement to make, but not....quite....yet! I'll be sharing it in my
next newsletter and if you love color, if you love painting, and if you love
FREE stuff, you won't want to miss it. Have you signed up yet?
I sure hope so, the early bird gets the blossom, flower friends!

My
iris garden is blooming and it's almost the end of December. Each
morning I awaken, expecting the cold to stop this unexpected spell of
blossoms, and more and more flowers are opening. I've decided to see
this bounty as a gift from my newest guardian angel, my Mother. Thanks
Mom, for the beauty!

I'm
super excited to be the first painting artist to join the Vita Verde
team for a destination workshop to Sant'Angelo in Vado, Italy. You are
invited, flower friends, to join me in the heart of Italy for open air
markets, wine tastings, a day trip to the Adriatic Sea, and all the art
and culture your heart desires. You can learn more and see the movie
highlights on my web site. Early bird discounts are good until the end
of the year so don't delay! Click here for the movie!

My
iris garden is blooming and it's almost the end of December. Each
morning I awaken, expecting the cold to stop this unexpected spell of
blossoms, and more and more flowers are opening. I've decided to see
this bounty as a gift from my newest guardian angel, my Mother. Thanks
Mom, for the beauty!

I'm
super excited to be the first painting artist to join the Vita Verde
team for a destination workshop to Sant'Angelo in Vado, Italy. You are
invited, flower friends, to join me in the heart of Italy for open air
markets, wine tastings, a day trip to the Adriatic Sea, and all the art
and culture your heart desires. You can learn more and see the movie
highlights on my web site. Early bird discounts are good until the end
of the year so don't delay! Click here for the movie!

My iris garden is blooming and it's almost the end of December. Each morning I awaken, expecting the cold to stop this unexpected spell of blossoms, and more and more flowers are opening. I've decided to see this bounty as a gift from my newest guardian angel, my Mother. Thanks Mom, for the beauty!

I'm super excited to be the first painting artist to join the Vita Verde team for a destination workshop to Sant'Angelo in Vado, Italy. You are invited, flower friends, to join me in the heart of Italy for open air markets, wine tastings, a day trip to the Adriatic Sea, and all the art and culture your heart desires. You can learn more and see the movie highlights on my web site. Early bird discounts are good until the end of the year so don't delay! Click here for the movie!

Thanksgiving is a most favorite holiday in Flower Mound Studio, if one were to take a vote from the residents. It's only logical, considering the humans are outnumbered by the Pugs at the Polls, and Pugs consider eating a national sport.

I've created a little step by step tutorial for you showing how Butterfly Rest Stop came to bloom. I always begin my paintings with clean, transparent colors - read more...

Ginger Jar Lilies was my class demonstration in St. Louis, Missouri, this morning. The ladies in class today scored some home runs (notice the baseball reference, St. Louis?) with their lilies today, painting in oils and a few in acrylics. I'll have to get plenty of rest tonight, tomorrow we paint French landscapes and it will be our French party! I hope the ghost doesn't keep me awake - what ghost, you say? Read more....

There is nothing more inviting than a glider in a flower-filled garden, and nowhere I'd rather be on a cool day. I'm home after teaching two back to back workshops in Collierville, Tennessee, this week, and heading to St. Louis is a few days to swing a brush in my hometown with some of my favorite students in the whole world. Lately I've found myself being drawn to landscapes and light, and thanks to the beautiful gardens of my Tennessee hostess, Carolyn, I was able to capture some photos for paintings for some time to come!

As soon as I'm back from St. Louis, I'll be heading to San Diego, California, but before leaving for these trips, I'm hosting a double double giveaway on my Facebook fan page. Check out my page for a chance to win Breakfast Nook Hydrangeas, a fine art print. I'll be announcing the winner Wednesday night, and may the flower force be with you! In the meantime, my little helpers are taking me to task regarding the excessive traveling I've been doing. As you can see here, AnnieBee in particular notes, "Mama, you got some 'splainin' to do!"

I've been wanting to paint this scene for quite some time, it's a glimpse of my own back deck and garden. My morning glories are in full bloom right now, despite the lateness of the season. When friends and family come to visit, this is where we congregate on the porch swing, with a pug or three nearby just in case snacks happen. The hubby and I have been working on our flower gardens for over 14 years, and they are finally beginning to mature. We have a bit of a wild garden theme going, with lavender (also blooming!), oak leaf hydrangeas, lilies, impatiens, geraniums and pansies currently blooming. In the spring we have hydrangea and iris beds, and roses. I have three hummingbird feeders, hoping to start a new obsession and catch a few of these little ones before they migrate. If I succeed in attracting a few, I'll share photos with you, and probably paint some of those little winged jewels, too!

I'm super excited to return to my home town of St. Louis, Missouri, October 23-25 for a workshop. We'll be painting flowers and landscapes in bright colors at the Regional Arts Commission, a beautiful facility. I'll save a seat for you!

It's important to learn from your travel experiences, taking note of those important teaching moments, such as taking selfies facing upward into the rain in front of the Eiffel tower with your eyes open is an exercise in futility. Cafe hopping across Paris with a total disregard for a reasonable eating schedule is highly encouraged. Searching for the Sennelier art store (which happens to reside across from the Musee d'Orsay which rhymes with Monet) is a worthy pursuit, even if you do the entire pilgrimage at sunset, knowing full well the oldest art store in Paris will be closed when you arrive.

I'm sharing all the best videos, photos, and moments from my month of teaching in France with you on my Facebook fan page, including our tour of Monet's Garden in Giverny. Read more....

In exactly seven days, I'll be heading back to France! With students joining me from Australia, Canada, and across the US, I predict there will be plenty of painting, shopping and eating. I can hardly wait for gelato and croissants and all the yummy dishes Chef will prepare. I'm not a bit concerned about weight gain, after all, the more you weigh, the harder you are to kidnap! To celebrate, I'm giving away an original painting every day this week on my Facebook fan page. This is my biggest giveaway ever, and I want to send a painting to you, so be sure to enter to win!

This evening I'm working the late shift in the Flower Factory. The only staff member helping is AnnieBee, and since she is using my foot as her pillow while she dreams (and snores!), it looks like I will be sitting here for just a bit longer. I'll use that time wisely by sharing Peony Colored Glasses with you step by step ~ Enjoy! Click here for peonies created step by step.

In 18 days, I'll be in Southern France at Le Vieux Couvent to teach my first French workshop! I'm a bit excited. I keep finding myself floating through rooms and spaces, imagining aperitifs, midnight church bells out my blue shuttered, open bedroom windows, creme brûlée, gelato, shopping in the ancient markets of Soulliac.... The dream come true bucket list just goes on and on!

I'm incredibly honored to be sharing this experience with students in two classes, back to back, and a fun little side trip to Paris right smack dab in the middle. Students from Ireland, Canada, Australia, and across the US are converging for the Great French Escape! I will share all my favorite photos with you on my Facebook fan page, so stay tuned, flower friends! My absolute fondest wish is that you will take this journey with me someday. My 2016 France dates are already set so check your dream come true wish list, this is the painting getaway you've always deserved!

I made an executive decision to leave the banana out of my class demo in Hot Springs, Arkansas, this morning. It was a tough call, but one of the plums kept rolling behind the vase out of the spotlight and I didn't want to spook the rest of the fruit herd and cause a stampede. It was one of those days when you knock things over and drop things and can't remember the recipe for green (yellow plus blue makes...hmmmm....). Fortunately, I had a class full of incredibly encouraging flower friends.

These talented gals whipped out peonies so quickly we finished up early today! I flower marched them out to the deck for the class photo before any of them could escape my lens. As a special bonus, we had a visit from Tootsie the English Bulldog puppy (here's her gratuitous puppy video you are welcome very much!), who interrupted our lesson for free kisses and snuggles. (Scroll down to behold her cuteness!)

Tomorrow we will paint French landscapes, which seems fitting, since the supplies for my France workshop will be shipped out next week. Stay tuned for more photos to come!

There is just something about that
European greeting, the kiss, that always takes me by surprise. Not that I don't
like it, I could get used to it, but being a gal from Texas, we were taught
"The Hug" rather than "The Kiss" and so going in for the
hug and suddenly getting lips on your cheek is like discovering you're doing
the Cotton Eyed Joe when your partner was intent on the Texas Two Step. It's
really just a different point of view on a greeting, and one that is much
warmer, even than a hug. Like I said, I could get used to this whole European
thing! And it's a good thing, since my France workshop is coming up in August.
Mon cher, I must pack again soon!

For now I'm finally back on Texas
time, the unending rains have cut off the main road into and out of Flower
Mound, and I'm so thankful, yet again, to be a work at home artist! We're not
paddling around in boats, though it sure looks like it from the national news.
Not to worry, I have plenty of Dove chocolate and crackers and cheese. I can
hold up literally for days on such awesome rations!

Here's a new video I created for you - break out the popcorn and enjoy a view of Tuscany! Next stop, France!

Thunder rolled across the Tuscan hills last night, blasting light in bolts that shook the ground and threw out the power for a short time during our dinner hour at San Fedele in the Chianti region of Italy. We grabbed our wine glasses, cameras, and other valuables from tables on terraces overlooking vineyards and ran into the chapel to escape a drenching rain. As black clouds moved quickly across hills that had seen the boots of the Gestapo, the soft tread of monks, and the footprints of local farmers, it seemed only fitting to find sanctuary in a place where prayer had been given for 999 years.

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My Art Journey Began When...

Five years ago, I quit my corporate job as the director of a national magazine to become a full time artist and art teacher. One morning I had an epiphany: Life is too short not to follow your bliss. Every day I wake up and my heart surges with happiness. Yes I am an artist. Yes this is what I do for a living. Yes, I am a lucky girl. Thank you to each of you who have walked with me on this path. Whatever your tomorrow brings, may it be filled with color!